Live baiting finding could damage local greyhound industry

NORTH Coast greyhound racing authorities say a live baiting finding in the region could severely damage the industry.

Grafton Greyhound Racing Club president John Corrigan said a Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) welfare officer was checking trainers in the region, but would be surprised if there were any adverse findings.

"He has been through the trainers at Grafton and on Wednesday will be visiting another four trainers," Mr Corrigan said.

"They are going through freezers and housing to check how the dogs are being fed and housed."

Last night on ABC TV the program Four Corners found multiple examples around Australia of greyhound trainers using live animals to give their dogs the experience of a kill.

Mr Corrigan said in 35 years of training and racing dogs in the area he had no experience of any of these activities.

He said the trainers caught in the crackdown would be a minority of people in the sport, which was making good progress on its animal rights record.